Line blind



Oef. 16, 1945. 1 HAMER 21,386,893

LINE BLIND Filed April 21, 19.42

A172g. 3. a

f1 @ma 3 H/ly Afro/wey ,estema est. is, 194s y LiNEBLmn Leland s. Hamer,Long Besen, cani., assigner si trgourth to Paul A. Dewhirst, LosAngeles,

Application April 2i, 1942, Serial No. 39,851

e claims. (ci. esi-161i This invenon relates to pipe line equipment andrelates more particularly to line blinds or blinding H or closing pipelines. etc. A general object of this invention is to provide a simplepractical and eiective line blind in which the blind plate may be easilyand quickly installed, removed or reversed.

Another object of this invention is to provide improvements oi thegeneral type of line blind disclosed in Patent No. 2,271,138 granted tome January 27, 1942.

Another object oi this invention is to .provide a line blind of thecharacter referred to, embodying novel, readily retractible means forclamping the plate in position to close ofi the'pipe, said means beingretractible when loosened to allow the free introduction and removal ofthe plate. The two upper bolts, which serve to clamp the two bodysections against the blind plate, maybe easily retracted or spread apartto positions where they permit the free introduction and removal oi theplate so that there is never any necessity for removing any of thebolts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a line blind of thecharacter referred to in which the two upper bolts are automaticallyretracted upon withdrawing or inserting the blind plate as the case maybe. The blind plate and the upper bolts are shaped and related so thatmovement oi the plate to or from its position between the ends of thebody sections automatically pushes or cams the loosened upper bolts toretracted positions where they allow free passage of the plate.

Another object of this invention is .to provide a line blind of thecharacter referred to embodying practical effective means for spreadingthe body sections to free the plate for removal or to condition thedevice for the ready insertion of the plate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a line blind of thecharacter referred to which embodies only four nuts that requiremanipulation or use in the full operation of the line blind.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical,preferred form and application oi my invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawing,inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the line blind provided by this invention.Fig. 2 is an end view of the line blind showing the bar nuts. Fig. 3 isan enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of the line blindshowing the blind plate in position duced transverse detailed sectionalview ten substantially as indicated by line' s-d on 3.

The improved line blind oi! the present invention may be said tocomprise. generally, two body sections A and B having telescopicallyrelated ein51 sagement, a plate is arranged between the seetions AandrB, means il for urging the sections together to releasably clamp theplate l@ between the sections, and spreader means l for spree; .w thesections A and B to facilitate the introduc tion and removal oi' theplate.

The two body sections A and B constitute assembly adapted to beinstalled or connected be tween the opposing adjacent ends of pipes P orother fluid handling parts. The sections A and B are simple members,preferably constructed to be easily and quickly secured to the adjacentends of the pipes P. In practice the sections A and B may be constructedto be welded, bolted or screw threaded on the pipes. In the particularconstruction illustrated in the drawing the sections A and B aredesigned to be screw threaded on the pipes, each section having acentral threaded opening or socket i3 for receiving the threaded end ofits respective pipe P. The body sections A and B are complementarysimilar members resembling flanges.

The outer side of the section Ahas a boss or hub it in which thethreaded opening it is formed and the inner side of the section A has ahub l5 of larger diameter. The inner hub it has a central longitudinalsocket or opening it of larger diameter than the iiuid openings il ofthe sections A and B. The bottom or inner Wall I8 of the opening itforms an annular shoulder which lies in a plane transverse of thelongitudinal axis of the device. A transverse or lateral opening or slotI9 is formed in the hub Ib and joins the opening I6. The lateral openingor slot I9 is provided to receive the plate ill. The width or transversedimension of the opening I9 is at least equal to the diameter of theopening Il and the edge walls of the slot is may extend tangentiallyoutwardly or upwardly from the wall of the opening it. The opening i9vis open at the top of the hub i5 -to receive the plate Ill. The lateralopening i9 occurs at the inner end of the hub' I5 so that the abovedescribed wall Il is co-extensive with the inner side wall of thelateral opening la. A drain opening 20 is provided in the lower wall ofthe hub i5 and is normally closed by a threaded-in plug 2i The drainopening 2li provides for the draining of the iitting and the pipe linewhen the plate I0 is installed,

.between the body sections. Fig. 4 is s slightly re- 55 replaced orreversed.

The section B of the iitting may have a plain flat outer side or end. Aboss or hub 22 is formed on the inner side oi the section B and projectsinto the opening Il of the hub I5. In practice the hub 22 nts theopening I6 with considerable clearance. The threaded socket I3' for thepipe P extends through the body of the section B and enters the hub 22,the opening I'I of the section B continuing inwardly to the inner end ofthe hub. The inner end of the hub 22 constitutes a flat annular surface23 which is spaced from and parallel withthe wall I6. The wall I6 andthe surface 23 are adapted to clamp against opposite Sides f the P1818l0. as will be hereinafter described.

The invention preferably includes means for I slidably sealing/betweenthe sections A and B to prevent the drainage or leakage of fluid frombetween the sections when the plate I6 is-being installed, replaced orreversed; An annular body or ring 24 oi' packing is set in a groove in awall of theopening I6. The sealing ring 24 is spaced outwardly or awayfrom the lateral opening I9 and the sealing ring projects inwardly fromthe wall of the opening I6 to seal with the periphery of the hub 22.Where -petroleum products are to be handled by the device, the sealingring 24 may be formed of a synthetic rubber which will expand throughcontact with the iiuid to maintain an effective seal between the twobody sections A and B.

The plate I6 is adapted to be engaged or clamped between the sections Aand' B to blind on or close of! the pipe line. The plate In may comprisetwo joined or connected portions 25 and 26. The two plate portions 25and 26 are generally disc-shaped and the p ortion 25 is closed orimperforate while the portion 26 has an orifice or opening 21. When thedevice is employed as aline blind -the opening 2'I is preferably of thesame diameter as the opening II so that when the portion 26 is engagedbetween the sections A and B there is a free unrestricted fluid passagethrough the device. When the device or fitting is to be used as anoriiice meterfitting the orifice 21 may be considerably smaller than theopenings I'I so that the plate portion 26 may operate as an orice plate.I'he plate portions 25 and 26 are proportioned so that they may bereadily passed into the lateral opening I6 to occupy a position betweenthe wall I6 and the surface 23. The radius of curvature of theperipheries of the portions 25 and26 may be equal to or slightly lessthan the radius of the opening I6 so that the plate portions areeffectively guided into position by the side or edge walls of the4transverse opening I9 and so that the peripheral edges of the plateportions may bear on the bottom or inner wall of the opening I6 tocentralise or locate 'the plate portions.

It is preferred to provide means for sealing between the opposite facesoi the plate I0 and the wall I6 and surface 23 of the sections A and B.In the case illustrated suitable gaskets 26 .are provided on theopposite sides of the plate portion 25 to seal with .the wall ,I8 andsurface 23. It is to be understood that appropriate seallng means may beprovided on the wall I6 and the surface 23 to seal with the opposingsurfaces of the plate I6.

The means II serves to connect the body sections A and B and is operableto clamp the sections against the plate III to retain thevplate in thelateral opening I3 and to assuretight seals between the plate and thesections. jIn -accordlo ance with the invention the means II comprises alimited number o! spaced aligned or complementary lugs on the ilangesections A and B. The lugs occur on the peripheries of the flangelikesections A and B and are preferably integral parts oi the sections. Inthe preferred construction illustrated there are four substantiallyequally spaced lugs on each section A and B, namely, two lower lugs 30and two upper lugs 3I.

l,The lower lugs 30 may be partially disc-shaped, y while the upper lugs3I are inthe nature of upper corner portions of the flange sections Aand B,

which corner portions may be generally angular.

.The` lower lugs 36 have aligned axial openings 32 forreceiving studs orbolts 33. In accordance with the invention the openings 32 are flatwalled or polygonal and the bodies oiP the bolts 33 are correspondinglyshaped to litY the openings. For example, the openings 32 may behexagonal and the bodies of the bolts 33 may be hexagonal. The tlt orengagement of the bolts 33 in the openings 32 positively holds the bolts33 against rotation. The opposite end portions of the bolts 33 arecylindrical and screw-threaded, and project beyond the outer faces oithe flange sections A and B.

The section connecting and Iplate clamping means II further includesslots 34 in the upper lugs 3i. The slots 34 are horizontal, that is,their long axes are normal to the longitudinal axlsof the lateralopening I6. The slots 34 have at parallel upper and lower Walls ofsubstantial extent and the end walls of the slots 34 may each be definedby two converging walls 35. Stds or bolts 36 are passed through thealigned or complementary slots 34 of the two body sections A and B. Thebolts 36 are nat sided and have fiat surfaces which cooperate with thelongitudinal walls of the slots 34, this engagement serving topositively hold the bolts against rotation. In practice the bolts 36 maybe the same as the bolts 33, that is. the bodies of the bolts 36 may behexagonal. The upper and lower surfaces of the hexagonal bolt bodiesslidably ride on the upper and lower walls of the elongat 'slots 34.

The hexagonal bolts 36 engaged in the slots 34, as just described, eachhas a dat face 31 sloping downwardly and inwardly toward thelongitudinal axis of the device and a flat face 36 sloping downwardlyand outwardly. The facesV 31 on the sides of the two opposing bolts 36may be engaged by the periphery ofsa plate portion 25 or 26 when thesame is being inserted in the opening I9 and this engagement may resultin outward movement or spreading of the two bolts 36. The downwardly andoutwardly pitched faces 36 of the bolts 36 may be engaged by theperiphery of the plate portion 25 or 26 when the latter is beingwithdrawn from the tting and this engagement may cani apart or spreadthe bolts 36. With the boltsjloose or free the engagement of the plateI6 with the surfaces 31 or 33, as the case may be, effectively serves toautomatically spread the bolts 36 to positions Where they permit thefree entry or withdrawal of the Vplate I6. The slots 36 are suiilcientlylong to allow the bolts 36 to be moved to outer positions where theypermit the free movement of the ,plate I6 into or out of the lateralopening I6.

'escasos a piste portion 2s cr as in the operative posities the bolts asmay termites inwardly tothe in.

. K ner end portions of the slots 3l.

36. vThe nuts may be of typical or conventional character but it ispreferred to provide what I will term a bar nut" 39 on one end of eachbolt 33 and 3B'.4 The bar ynuts 39 each have two or morelcircumferentially spaced ears 39", and these ears 39'I have .lateral ortangential openings 4o for receiving a turning bar or rod.- In the caseillustrated there are three ears 39 on each nut te. With the nuts 39constructed in this man- '3 move the nuts It and the nuts maybe merelyloosened or backed oil. when this has been done the spreading screws I2may be rotatedto press against the bosses 44 to spread the sections Aand B. This spreading of the sections A and B fully frees the 'plate I0and the plate may lbe readily withdrawn from the lateral opening i9. Inthe event the upper studs or bolts 38 have not-been retracted or spreadoutwardly in their 1o Jslots 34 the upward withdrawal of the plateportion 28 from the opening I9 results in the automatic retraction ofthe studs.v The periphery of the plate portion 25' cooperates with thebolt suri faces-33 to movethe bolts outwardly to their nera leverturning bar maybe readily inserted in one of the openings 4l! with a nutin am rotative position. In the construction illustrated there is a barnut 39 on oneend of each lbolt 3s and 36. The bar nuts se are shown oncorresponding ends of the several bolts to cooperate with the plainouter side of the section B. Com.. mon or conventional nuts di may bethreaded on the other ends of the bolts 33 ahd to cooperate with theouter face of the section A. The nuts ti may be threaded inwardly toselected positions with their inner faces in a common plane to engagethe section A and maybe left in these positions indefinitely because itis unnecessary and, in fact, impossible to turn the bolts t3 and 3B whenoperating the device. It

will be apparent how rotation of the nuts t@ in the correct directionwill cause the sections A and B to be urged together to tightly clampthe plate id between the sections.

The invention may further include me if for spreading the sections Aand-B to facilitate the free removal, reversal and insertion of theplate iii. There are preferably two diametrically opposite spreadingmeans i2. In tne case illustrated the spreading means i2 are located atthe opposite sides of the line blind. Each means i2 includes a spreaderscrew t2 threaded through an opening is in the ange portion of thesection B. The inner end of each screw t2 reacts or bears against alugor boss 4t on the inner side of the section A 'I'he portion of thescrew d2 between the sections A and B is preferably polygonal forengagement by a wrench. It will be seen that by rotating the screw 42,in the correct direction the screw presses against the boss tt to spreador exert a spreading force on the sections A and B. With the nuts 38loosened the spreader screws 42 may be employed to shift the sections Aand B away from one another to free the plate I for ready removal or tofacilitate the easy insertion of the plate.` v

It is believed that the utility and practicability of the line blindprovided by this invention will be readily understood from the foregoingdetailed description. With the plate portion disposed in the positionillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and with the nuts 38 tightenedagainst the section B the plate is securely held between the twosections and the pipe line is completely closed off. The gaskets 28tightly compressed between the surfaces of the plate I0 and the opposingwall IE and surface 23 assure fluid tight seals at opposite sides of theplate. W'hen it is desired to remove the plate i0 or to reverse theplate to permit a free flow of uid through the pipe line the bar nuts 39are backed oil. This is readily accomplished by merely inserting the endportion of a bar in the openings 40 and exerting a turnretractedpositions so that the plate portion 25 may be freely removed. With theplate lo withdrawn from the line blind the packing 24 prevents fluidfrom draining or leaking from. the line and thus eliminates dangerousflre hazards where inammable uids are handled.

When lthe plate it is to be replaced, for example-when the plate portion28 is to be clamped between the sections Aand B, the portion 26 ismerely passed inwardly through the opening i9 to its position betweenthe wall la and the surface 23. The plate portion 2d may be equippedwith gaskets similar to the gaskets iid. The bolts te are in theirretracted positions at the outer ends of the slots '8d and the plateportion 2t is free to pass in through the opening is. With the plateportion 2t engaged against the bottom wall ofthe opening is the bolts itare restored to their active positions at the inner ends of the slots seand the bar nuts t@ of the several bolts it and 38 are tightened againstthe section B. Prior to this the spreader screws i2 are retracted fromthe bosses it so that the clamping of the nuts it against the section Bforces the sections A and B toward one another. This results in the wallit and the surface 2s tightly clamping against the plate portion 2t tosecure the same in place and to assure fluid-tight seals.

It is to be observed that it is unnecessary to remove any nuts or boltswhen installing, reversing or replacing the blind plate. The lower bolts33 may always remain in position while the upper bolts 38 are eithermanually shifted between their active and retracted positions orautomatically retracted upon insertion or removal of the plate and, inno case, is it necessary to withdraw any of the bolts. The line blind isfully operable by a minimum number of simplextools. A simple bar or rodis all that is required`to loosen and Having described only a typicalpreferred formV and application of my invention, I do not wish to belimited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but wishto reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear tothose skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

Having described my invention, I claim :l

l. A :fitting of the character described compris'- ing two iiangesections having a nuid passage and having means for connecting withfluid conductors, telescopically related hubs on the inner sides ofthe'sections, the outer hub having a lateral opening and an internalseat, a. plate to b e inserted in the opening to extend across thepassage, and means for urging the sections toward one another so thatthe plate is clamped between the seat and theinner endi of the innerhub, said means including clamp bolts circumferentially spaced aroundthe assembly of sections, one or more of the bolts extending across themouth of said opening preventing movement of the plate through theopening, the sections having openings for passing the bolts, thoseopenings which pass said bolts which extend across the mouth of saidlateral opening being in the form of slots the outer ends of which arebeyond the path of the plate as it passes through the opening so thatthe bolts may be shifted in the slots to retracted positions at theouter ends of the slots where they do not interfere with the insertionor removal of the plate, and nuts screwed on the bolts;-

2. A fitting of the character deseribedgcomprising two flange sectionshaving a fluid passage and having means for connecting with fluidconductors, telescopically related hubs on the inner sides ofthesections, the outer hub having a lateral opening, a plate to be insertedin the opening to extend acrossthe passage, and means for urging thesections toward one another so that the plate is clamped between theseat and the inner` end of the inner hub, said means including clampbolts circumferentially spaced around the assembly of sections andhaving polygonal intermediate portions, one or more of the boltsextending across the mouth of said opening, the sections having spacedpolygonal openings receiving the polygonal portions of the bolts, theengagement of the polygonal bolts in the polygonal openings holding thebolts against rotation, and nuts threaded on the bolts to cooperate withthe sections, those bolt-passing openings which receive the bolts whichextend across the mouth of the lateral opening being in the nature ofslots whose longitudinal axes are substantially normal with respect tothe axis of movement of the plate into and out of said lateral openingthe outer ends of which are beyond the path of the plate as it passesthrough the opening so that the bolts therein may be shifted toretractedlpositions in the slots where they do not interfere with the insertionor removal of the plate but are held against rotation',

3. A fitting-'fof the character described comprising two flange sectionshaving a, fluid passage and having means for connecting with fluidconductors, telescopically related hubs on the inner sides oi thesections, the outer hub having a lateral opening, a plate to be operatedinto and out ofthe opening to extend across the passage, and means forurging the sections toward one another so that the plate is clampedbetween the seat and the inner end of the inner hub, said means inicluding clamp bolts extending across the mouth of said lateral openingand having polygonal intermediate portions, the sections having slotsreceiving said portions of the bolts, the long axes bf the slots beingtransverse of the movement oi' the plate when the plate is inserted andremoved so that the bolts may be shifted from their normal positionsacross the mouth ofthe opening to retracted positions removed from themouth of the opening where they do not interfere with the insertion orremoval of the plate, the engagement of said polygonal portions in theslots preventing rotation of the bolts, and nuts screwed on the bolts tocooperate withthe sections, said polygonal portions of the boltspresenting surfaces engageable by the plate, upon operation o f theplate, to cam the bolts to said retracted positions.

4. A fitting of the character described to be connected between iluidconductors comprising two flange sections having fluid passages, a plateinsertable between the sections, and means for assasos clamping thesectional/,against the plate comprising clamp bolts, the sections havingslots for receiving the bolts so they are movable into and Y out ofpositions where they are in the path of yclamping the sections againstthe plate compris- "ing clamp bolts. the sections having aligned slotsfor receiving the bolts, nuts on the bolts, the bolts being movable inthe slots from opposite the plate to retracted positions to allow forthe insertion of the plate between the sections, one section havingAspaced threaded openings, and 'spreading' screws threaded in the lastnamed openings and reacting against the other section.

6. A fitting of the character described to be connected between fluidconductors comprising two flange sections having fluid passages, a plateadapted tcf'be passed into and out of position between the;` sections,and means for clamping the sections against the plate and obstructingthe passage oi' the plate including a bolt extending through registeringslots in the ange sections and a unit on the bolt for tightening thesections together, the said slots being formed to slidably carry thebolt when the nut is released and extending from a point in the pathtraveled by the plate in passing to or from position between 'thesections to a point out of the said path of the plate.

7. A fitting oi the character described to be connected between iluidconductors comprising two flange sections having fluid passages, a plateadapted to be passed into and out of position between the sections, andmeans for clamping the sections against the plate and obstructing thepassage of the plate including a bolt extending through registeringslots in the flange sections and a. nut on the bolt for tightening thesections together, the said bolt having a fiat sided intermediateportion and the said slots slidably carrying said portion of the bolt toprevent it from turning when the nut is operated, the slots extendingyin a direction transverse of the longitudinal laxis of the fitting froma point in the path traveled by the plate in passing to or from positionbetween the sections to a point out of the said path oi' the plate.

8. A tting of the character described to be connected between fluidconductors comprising two flange sections having fluid passages, a plateadapted to be passed into and out of position between the sections, andmeans for clamping the sections against the plate and obstructing thepassage of the plate including spaced bolts extending throughregistering openings in the flange sections and each having anintermediate portion polygonal in cross section, nuts on the bolts fortightening the bolts on the ange sections, the flange sections havingslots slidably carrying the said portions of the bolts between positionswhere the bolts are clear of the path of the plate as it..`

passes intoor out`of position between the sections and positions wherethey are in the path of the plate as it passes into or out of positionbetween the sections and present convergent faces engageable by theplate as it is moved in said path so the bolts are moved by means of theplate to the first mentioned positions. I

9. A tting of the character described comprising two flange sectionshaving a uid passage and having means for connecting with iiuidconductors, teiescopically related hubs. on the inner sides of thesections, the outer hub having a lateral opening. a plate to be insertedin the opening to extend across the passage, and means for urging thesections toward one another so that the plate is clamped between theseat and the inner end of the inner hub, said means including clampbolts extending between the sections opposite the mouth of said lateralopening and having polygtransverse oi' the direction of movement of theplate when the plate is inserted and removed so that the bolts may beshifted from their normal positions opposite the mouth of\the opening toretracted positions where they are removed from the path of the plate asit is operated through the mouth of the opening,'the engagement ot saidpolygonal portions in the' slots preventing rotation of the bolts, nutsscrewed' on the bolts to cooperate with the sections, and means forspreading the sections when the nuts are loosened comprising a threadedscrew on one section for pressing against the other section.

LELANDS.HAMER.

